AP reveals truth of Tibet visit: An absurd drama of 'ethnic unity' under tight official control

A recent trip organized by the Chinese government for Associated Press reporters to Tibet exposed a carefully curated reality, where official narratives of ethnic unity were presented under strict surveillance. The visit, intended to showcase local conditions, was instead marked by contradictions and absurdity, with crackdowns and assimilation policies framed as a political performance.

During the tour of Lhasa and Shannan cities, foreign journalists were constantly accompanied by Chinese officials, preventing any freedom of movement or independent reporting. A stark symbol of this control was the "Welcome to Tibet" sign at the Lhasa airport, written exclusively in Chinese, erasing the Tibetan language. This occurred shortly after China implemented the "Law on the Promotion of Ethnic Unity and Progress" on July 1, which mandates Mandarin as the primary language in schools and government institutions.

“

Tibet welcomes you.

Critics view this new law as a means to further erode the rights of Tibetans and other ethnic minorities, empowering Beijing to suppress perceived separatist activities. The law also aims to foster patriotism, ethnic unity, and a "sense of community of the Chinese nation." The Chinese government, however, dismisses foreign criticism as "ideological bias."

Even sacred sites like the Jokhang Temple and the Potala Palace in Lhasa now display Chinese national flags and portraits of President Xi Jinping. Propaganda posters urging the "establishment of a strong sense of community of the Chinese nation" are common on Lhasa's streets. A 19-year-old Tibetan student interviewed expressed her desire to teach and preserve Tibetan culture but lamented that students are now only permitted to communicate in Mandarin at school. Chinese officials highlighted efforts in "cultural preservation" by arranging visits to ceramic and textile workshops and Tibetan opera performances, claiming assimilation policies have "only benefits." However, overseas experts argue that China is merely preserving superficial aspects like clothing and handicrafts that attract tourists, while systematically stripping away the core elements of Tibetan identity: language and religious freedom. Professor Benno Weiner of Carnegie Mellon University noted that these policy shifts have been evident for years, particularly in the erosion of educational and linguistic rights, stating the law "only legalizes and summarizes a trend that has been ongoing."

“

I don't think the law itself changes anything. I think it just legalizes and summarizes a trend that has been ongoing.